THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME!

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN THE SHOW, CHARACTERS, OR SONGS USED! ONLY BORROWED!

SETTING: 1940s (Just cause I love this time period!)

DESCRIPTION: Klaus has been missing in action, and his wife, Caroline, waits for his return.

SONG: Just a Dream by Carrie Underwood

Please remember to review at the end!

It had been three years. Three years since she heard from him, and it broke her heart every time she got a paper, and read the list of the missing, dead, and recovered.

She wiped the tears from her eyes, and held her left hand close to her chest, letting the wedding set he had given her rest near her heart.

She lifted her eyes to the window, and searched the street outside her house, hoping for the vehicle from the army would pull up, and give her the news she was ready for.

She hated the waiting, but though she despised it, she wanted him home. She wanted to hold him, gaze into his cerulean eyes, and make love to him until they couldn't walk.

She stood up, and moved towards the kitchen, deciding to make a pot of tea.

Tea…

His drink

Caroline gripped the counter, and let the tears fall. She never considered drinking tea, until she met Klaus, and later married him.

Now, every time she drank it, she felt as if he was there.

Closing her eyes, she waited for the pot to warm.

~Flashback~

Arms surrounded her waist, and pulled her against a bare chest, and she laughed when his lips touched her bare shoulders.

"I thought I told you to come back to bed." He replied, against her skin.

She hummed, and turned to wrap her arms around his neck, letting the sheet stay in place with his arms. "We've been bed for nearly two days, I needed to move around." She returned, watching his mouth smirk, before catching hers.

"I thought we were getting plenty of movement." He muttered against her lips.

She laughed, and threw her head back. "That's not the kind of movement I meant, Klaus, and you know it." She stated, slapping his chest, playfully.

He chuckled, and captured her lips once more. "Oh, darling, how I love thee." He remarked, hearing her hum against him.

She pulled back, and touched his face with her right hand. "How British of you, trying to quote Shakespeare," She teased, searching his eyes.

He shrugged, and leaned into her hand, kissing her palm. "You love it."

She smiled, and nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck, and held him close.

He returned the gesture, and held her close to his body, absorbing her scent, as it filled his senses. Forever would he remember the simple lilac scent of her soap mixed with the strawberry scent of her hair.

"Don't leave me, Klaus." She whispered, after a moment.

He sighed, and his eyes closed at the pain he heard in her voice. He pulled back a fraction, and caressed her face in between his hands. "You heard the conversation." He realized, watching her eyes fill with tears.

She slowly nodded, and closed her eyes. "You're leaving next week." She whispered, her voice starting to crack.

He sighed once more, and placed his forehead on hers. "I was going to tell you."

She rubbed her head with his, and threaded her hands into his hair. "I know."

He pulled back, and once again searched her eyes. "Married for only two days, and already we are being separated," He stated with malice.

She tried to smile, but her face and emotions forbade the movements. "We'll be together again, love." She returned, watching his face fill with sadness.

"I'll write to you every day, every week." He vowed, watching tears fall down her face.

"You better, because I don't know if I could survive without you, even it is just a letter." She stated, with a small fire in her eyes.

He stroked her cheek, and sighed. "You are so full light, Caroline, you will survive. You have to for both of us." He remarked, searching her eyes.

She finally let her head nod in understanding, and she sighed. "Both of us."

~XXX~

Caroline remembered the words in her dreams after he was deployed, and it had killed her to think that he may never know of the child they had conceived those days, or the blue eyes their daughter held that reminded her so much of him.

She opened her eyes, and took the pot, now steaming from the stove, and poured her a cup of hot tea.

A sigh escaped her lips, as she turned to face the picture, the one of many of her husband, hanging on the wall just outside of the kitchen, and smiled.

He was handsome with his clean shaven face, and piercing blue eyes, curly sandy brown hair, and a smile that showed off those knee shaking dimples.

His looks had been only an introduction, for as she had gotten to know him, she realized he had an attitude that battled hers, and it was the fight between them that led to a romance that made her smile in memory.

In all of their correspondence through the war, she had told him of their child. He had wrote back how he wanted to see her, and knowing that he had, not just a wife, but a daughter, gave him something to fight for.

She smiled, and reached forward to touch the picture. "Let it be a dream, Klaus. Come back to me. To us," She whispered, a prayer she said so many times during the three years, since he was reported missing.

"Mommy…"

Caroline smiled, and turned to face her four year old. "What is it, Nicole?" She asked, placing the cup on the counter.

Her four year old waddled towards her, and lifted her arms up. Caroline smiled as she scooped up her daughter, and kissed her cheek, before holding her close.

"When is daddy coming home?" Nicole asked, in the quiet of the room.

Caroline frowned, thankful that her daughter hadn't looked into her face to get her answer. "Soon, I hope."

Nicole nodded, and held her mother close. She wanted to meet her daddy, and she wanted her mommy to happy again.

~XXX~

"Has there been any news?" Bonnie asked, placing a cup of tea in front of her friend.

Caroline shook her head, and felt the tears well up. "No, but I won't give up. I can't." She answered, glancing at her wedding set.

"You feel him, don't you?" Bonnie asked, knowing her friend so well.

Caroline nodded, and sighed. "I keep hoping it was just a dream. That he didn't really disappear in the forest of Germany, and that he is alright, and on his way home." She responded, with a twinge of regret.

Bonnie tilted her head to the side, and touched her friend's hand. "He'll come home, Caroline. One way or another," She stated, with a soft smile.

Caroline lifted her eyes, filled with sadness and age. "It's another that scares me."

~XXX~

For once, Caroline was thankful that she would have her home to herself. Though she loved her daughter with all her heart, tonight was a special night, and she wanted to spend it in her memories.

She turned the motor car off, and sighed, as she grabbed the brown bag from the passenger seat, and opened the door to step out into the humid English air.

After marrying Klaus nearly five years ago, she had grown accustomed to living in England, which was different from her native Virginia, but for him, she would swim the English Channel.

It scared her, at one time to think of how much she truly, deeply loved him, but now, it was the only thing that sustained her.

Others, who didn't understand, had tried to get her to declare Klaus dead, after two years of him being missing, but she refused. She suspected it was because they wanted her date again, but she couldn't.

Not when she felt Klaus, alive, and loving her and their daughter.

She approached the door, and pulled out her key. It skipped her mind how the door seemed easy to open, which was unreal, since it always stuck. Instead, she entered the house, and sighed as she dropped her purse, keys, and slipped off her coat at the door, all the while holding the bag filled with wine and two steaks.

It was silly, but she knew the other steak would be eaten the next day between her daughter and herself.

She entered the kitchen, and turned the light on, with a sigh.

She set the bag down, and let the tears fall down her cheeks.

"Don't cry, love."

In a moment, time stood still. She jerked her head up, and turned her body around to find a man standing in the threshold of her kitchen.

Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened. "Wha…" She began, her voice choking, as she took in the man, who looked like he had been through hell and beat it.

His hair was still short, but instead of a clean shaven face, he had a scruffy look, and his clothes were not neat but raggedy.

"I apologize for my appearance, love, but I couldn't wait to change after they dismissed me." He began, his voice just as she remembered.

She started to shake her head, her heart hoping this was him, and her mind telling her it was a dream. "This is a dream." She whispered, finally, her heart hammering in her chest. "You're not really here." She added, shaking her head.

He smiled, and stepped further into the room. "I'm here, Caroline." He remarked, the light in the kitchen catching his eyes.

She shook her head. Her heart still pounding the closer to her stepped. She could smell the cologne he wore, and feel the warmth of his skin as he stood only a foot away from her. "Tell me this isn't a dream." She whispered, her eyes leaking tears, her voice breaking with emotion.

Klaus lifted his left hand, and she saw his wedding band before he caressed her cheek.

She shivered at his touch, and her breaths started coming out in pants. "Klaus?" His name escaped her in breathes.

His eyes watered as he gazed into her eyes, and he nodded. "It's me, love. I'm home." He answered, searching her eyes.

She let out a sob, and lifted her left hand to touch his face, making sure. "You're really here?" She cracked, taking short breathes.

He nodded. "I'm really here." He answered, letting his thumb stroke her face.

She let out a sob, and shook her head. "Oh, God!" She cried, throwing her arms around his neck, and collided into his body with a force that made them stagger, but he caught her.

His eyes closed as the perfect moment he had dreamed of for years played out in reality. "Oh, my Caroline," He choked, placing his hand on the back of her head, and his other pressed into her back.

She cried, tears of joy, and pulled back to hold his face in between her hands. "My Klaus," She whispered, shaking her head, before pressing her lips onto his, confirming what her heart had been telling her.

This wasn't dream. He was here. He was really here.

He groaned into her mouth, and moved his mouth over hers in a dance that they never forgot during their forced separation.

They separated a fraction, both trying to catch their breath, and smiled as they held each other in the sanctity of their home.

"I dreamed of this moment for years, love." He whispered, touching her on her face, neck, hair, back, as she did the same.

She nodded, and moved her hands around his body, loving the feel of him against her. "So have I." She returned, pulling back to hold his eyes. "You came back to me." She whispered, watching him smile.

"I did promise, Caroline." He returned, watching her smile.

She bit back more tears, and touched his face. "Oh, Niklaus," She whimpered, hating that she was breaking once again, but loving the reason.

He smiled in understanding, and leaned forward to hold her in his arms once again. "I won't leave you again." He stated, kissing her neck, burying his face in her long blonde hair.

She laughed, and held onto him with all the strength she had. "They would have to tear me away." She agreed, hearing him laugh.

They held each other, hating to even consider letting go, but both knew they had to, but this time, they knew that it was only a fraction, as they held hands, while Caroline led her newly returned husband to their bedroom.

Klaus smiled, and watched as she turned to face him, and his heart picked up the pace. "Caroline, I haven't showered." He remarked, watching her head shake.

"I don't care. We'll shower together, but I want you." She argued, reaching for his shirt.

He smiled, and caught her lips with his. "Best offer in four years," He remarked, as they slowly discarded their clothes, and she led him into the shower, where they washed each other in tender motions, with Caroline noting the scars on his back and chest.

Klaus, who knew the stories behind them, feared to tell her the truth, but saw the strength in her eyes. Strength he knew she always possessed, and encouraged him to fight the camps he was placed in, for her.

"You don't have to tell me, Klaus." She told him, letting his eyes lift to hers, as she traced the one caused by shell fragments on his chest. "Just know that I will be here when you are ready."

He smiled, wanly, and captured her lips with his. Later, he'd tell her of the camps he lived in during those three years he was prisoner, and how the image of her and the image of their daughter kept him strong, allowing him to hold onto his sanity, while others fell into the darkness.

He will tell her how the light she carried was the light in that same darkness, and though others suffered nightmares in hell, he suffered dreams.

He had witnessed torture and annihilation of his comrades, but her face gave him strength to endure. She saved his life, and his soul.

She wasn't just a dream. She was his reality, and it kept him stable.

As they held each other in the dark of night, skin on skin, he smiled as he drifted off to dream, but knew it was fruitless, for his dream was in his arms, and just as beautiful as he remembered.

Tomorrow, he would meet his daughter, and tomorrow, his dream would be complete.

For Caroline, the dream was the same.

"Will she like me?" He asked, tracing her bare back with is callused hand.

She hummed, and lifted her face to see his. "She loves you already. I told her, her father was a brave man, and would find his way to us." She paused, tracing his stubble, which she was growing to enjoy. "You've been her dream and mine for three years."

He smiled, and lifted his right hand to her face. "You both have been mine."

~XXX~

The next morning, when Bonnie brought Nicole home, they were both floored by the gentleman waiting on the other side of the door.

As Nicole ran to her father, whom she recognized immediately, and cried with him as they held each other, neither noticing Caroline holding her friend, Bonnie in the same joyous accord.

Everyone's dream came true that day, and for once, Caroline and Klaus were thrilled that it wasn't just a dream.

Please be kind!

If you know this song, then you know how sad and beautiful it is, but if you know me, then you know I couldn't let it be sad, not completely.

I hope you enjoyed this take!

I have a list of requests that I have been trying to get caught up on, but if you have a request, you can send it. Sometimes inspiration strikes when I least expect it!

Until Next Time...